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NEW YORK , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This December, Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Urology, under the leadership of Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.), DSc (Hon.), System Chair of Urology at Mount Sinai , invites you to the Sixth International Prostate Cancer Symposium and World Congress of Urologic Oncology—a four-day event that promises to be a landmark gathering for urology and robotic surgery professionals worldwide. From December 11-14, 2024 , leading experts and innovators will convene at Mount Sinai Hospital to explore groundbreaking advancements in research, clinical practices, and surgical techniques. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity for education, collaboration, and innovation in the ever-evolving field of urologic oncology. Attendees can look forward to a dynamic lineup that includes: Over 100 global leaders in urologic oncology will share their expertise, including: This year's symposium is more than an educational event; it's a chance to connect with top professionals, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and experience cutting-edge technology. From live surgical demonstrations to holographic presentations by international experts, the program is designed to push the boundaries of urology and robotic surgery. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of thought leaders and innovators. Register now to secure your place at this extraordinary event. For additional details and registration, visit: https://mountsinaiurologycme.com To relive the excitement, check out highlights from last year's symposium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRbrhe5kQ-c Join us at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City this December as we shape the future of urology and robotic surgery! Media Contact: Michael Inocencio , 19143146029, michael.inocencio@mountsinai.org View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mount-sinai-hospital-to-host-sixth-international-prostate-cancer-symposium-and-world-congress-of-urologic-oncology-302325194.html SOURCE Mount Sinai HospitalChris Cenac Jr., the top center in the Class of 2025 according to the ESPN100, has committed to play for the Houston Cougars. The five-star recruit announced his decision Tuesday via the Bleacher Report's B/R App. Cenac previously said he wouldn't make his decision until the spring, but his stock soared over the summer after his impressive play on the Puma Pro 16 circuit with Dallas-based YGC, vaulting him into the national top-10 rankings. The 6-foot-10 New Orleans native was reportedly choosing between LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky, Tennessee and others before making the decision to join Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson's team. "I just like the coaching staff a lot, I like their plan to develop me and I like coming into a winning program," Cenac told 247Sports. "I'm looking forward to producing and just helping them win more. But the main thing was development and them being able to get me better so I can be ready for that next level." Cenac's rating of .9978 by 247Sports Composite makes him the Cougars' highest-rated commit in the modern era, according to multiple outlets. "They see me as a four who can kind of play all over the court and do everything," Cenac told 247Sports. "I can get rebounds, push the ball, shoot and play all over the floor." With Cenac joining other Houston commits like five-star shooting guard Isaiah Harwell, four-star point guard Kingston Flemings and three-star wing Bryce Jackson, Houston's Class of 2025 is ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247Sports and ESPN. --Field Level Media
U-23 PROVISIONAL SQUAD UNVEILEDNoneHaiti’s health minister loses his job after a deadly gang attack on a hospital in the capitalGenerative AI Market to grow by USD 97.75 Billion (2024-2028), driven by demand for AI-generated content, with a report on AI's market impact - Technavio
The Motorola Razr (2023) is still one of the most affordable foldable phones on the market, especially now that it's on sale. Some notable compromises include a smaller external display, a lower-end processor, and a weak camera system. The Motorola Razr handles day-to-day activities fairly well and can even run more graphics-intensive tasks if needed. It's been on my mind since the very first foldable: At what point will these shape-shifting phones be affordable enough for everyone to buy? The first iterations were understandably expensive because of the R&D and materials that manufacturers had put in -- and also because of innovation -- so it was only a matter of time before processes became more streamlined and the entry price dropped, right? Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates But that's hardly been the case, with the OnePlus Open being priced at $1,699 (only $100 less than Samsung and Google's phone-to-tablet foldables) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 now starting at $1,219. That's why Motorola's humble Razr (2023) is such a big deal. It's the first foldable phone to retail for less than $700, not only undercutting the next "cheapest" foldable by $300 but also the base models of more traditional phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Apple iPhone 15. If Motorola can nail down the essentials at this price point, the Razr may well be the foldable I recommend to most people. Motorola Razr (2023) A pocket-friendly Android with dual displays, a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, a 4,200mAh battery, and more. For starters, it's easy to mistake the Motorola Razr for the Motorola Razr Plus that was released last June. The two phones are very similar, including the folding mechanism, general form factor, software features, and charging technology (30W wired, 5W wireless). Review: Motorola Razr Plus (2023): The best flipping foldable right now But seeing the two physically together paints a clearer picture. The 1.5-inch OLED panel on the Motorola Razr is one of its big compromises, as it's simply not as functional or glamorous as the one on the Razr Plus. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your smartphone values. Outer screens compared: Motorola Razr Plus (left) and Motorola Razr (right) For example, having a smaller external display limits the information you can see at a glance. In most cases, incoming notifications and text messages are just too long to be read completely, and a good chunk of tasks require you to use the inner screen to get them done. You also can't freely open apps and browse the web from the outer screen -- that was something I commended the Razr Plus for -- as Motorola limits you to basic widgets like the weather, contacts, and voice recorder. Also: Motorola wants you to wear its new bendable phone like a watch - but don't get too excited On the other hand, a smaller screen means you're less likely to get distracted when the Razr is not in use -- or doesn't need to be used. Motorola even has a "Unplugged" feature that limits your access to more distracting apps like TikTok and Instagram, so this is as close to a feature phone as a smartphone gets. Flip the screen open and you're met with what is basically a standard mid-range Android phone from 2023. The processor, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, is not the latest and greatest, but it's good enough to get me through a day of Slack messages, emailing, capturing the occasional photo and video, and navigating around the city, with some lag and slower load times here and there. Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Three features I love (and two that I still wish for) I've also been testing the Razr's performance with a Nintendo DS emulator (DraStic) -- because why wouldn't you simulate a foldable gaming console on a foldable phone -- and the device has kept things running fairly well. In most cases, the Razr only gets warmer to the touch after about 15 minutes of gameplay at 60fps. On paper, the Razr's 64MP dual camera system should yield more flattering photos than it does, but Motorola's image processing is its biggest Achilles heel. The lack of a dedicated telephoto lens means the Razr has to create an artificial bokeh effect, which can sometimes blur subjects more than it should (see the top of this Halloween desk contest entrant's headphones). In most cases, colors appear more washed out and not as saturated (or lifelike) as I'd prefer, and the 13MP ultrawide lens, while capable of capturing a wider field of view than the main sensor, lacks detail in shots. Also: I changed this Android setting to instantly double my phone speed But the Razr being foldable means that it beats even the most expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max in one regard: hands-free pictures. Motorola put the same sturdy hinge on the Razr as it did on the Razr Plus, so you can set the phone down -- something you'd typically need a counterweight or tripod for -- and capture photos and videos from a distance. Having the external display also means you can take fantastic-looking selfies by leveraging the rear cameras instead of the front-facing one. Again, something only a foldable phone can do. ZDNET's buying advice Shopping in the mid-range market can be difficult because it's all about how manufacturers balance specs and features, and how those values align with your personal needs. In the case of the Motorola Razr , its foldable form factor alone makes it stand out from a sea of glass slabs, and the $399 (currently $339) price makes it the most accessible option of its kind. Of course, you'll have to be OK with its compromises, including the just-average camera system, smaller external display, and 128GB storage limit. Otherwise, this is as good as a foldable gets at this price point, and I fully expect competitors to match Motorola's offer as soon as next year. What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals? ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. 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And that’s that. High school football season in Macomb County ended this past Saturday, Nov. 16 when the final teams – Dakota, De La Salle, Lutheran North and Armada – lost in the state quarterfinal round. It wrapped an impressive season in the area which saw multiple program-firsts, thrilling contests and incredible numbers from some of the county’s brightest stars. Here, we’ll consider a team’s full body of work during the 2024 season and do our best to give our definitely (not) definitive ranking of the top 10 teams in the 586. The Cougars have been a top three team in the county all season, and overall, they’re the cream of the crop. All of their MAC Red wins were by multiple scores. Their lone loss (at Eisenhower, 21-14) was decisively avenged when the Cougars crushed the Eagles 41-14 in the postseason to win a district title. And the game that knocked them out of the playoffs (21-14 vs. Cass Tech) was an absolute war with the difference being a ridiculous touchdown catch with under 30 seconds left in the game. Brady Hamby had a Mr. Football finalist-worthy season, playing both sides of the ball and being one of the best players on the field whenever he was on it. His linebacking partner, Dimari Malone, proved why he’s worthy of being a Michigan State Spartan by playing outstanding linebacker all year. He played a decent chunk of snaps at running back and wide receiver, and he was lethal there, too, scoring 10 touchdowns. Fellow MSU commit Justin Bell and Nick Battaglia led one of the area’s most dominant offensive lines, and Logan Criteser set a new school record with 16 sacks. De La Salle’s résumé can be put up against anybody’s in the state: regular season wins over Davison, Detroit King, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Chippewa Valley set up a playoff run that included knocking off Port Huron Northern and then-unbeaten Grosse Pointe South. Their season ended with a bit of controversy when Birmingham Groves – also undefeated heading into the state semifinals, by the way – was awarded a touchdown on a play that was originally flagged with the Falcon receiver touching the ball after running out of bounds. Warranted or not, there’s no arguing that the Pilots were talented enough to continue their run of four-straight championship appearances. And they’d have been going into a rematch with the OLSM Eaglets, who will duel Groves instead. Anthony Bitonti broke out in a big way this season, rushing for double-digit touchdowns and being the Pilots’ leader in all rushing categories. Damion King IV continued his breakout, going for over 1,000 all-purpose yards between rushing, receiving and returning with nine touchdowns. Bryce Hurley was on a Mr. Football finalist-caliber pace during the Eagles’ blazing start that included wins over Division 1 playoff teams Oxford, Romeo and Dakota, but his injury took a major punch out of a balanced Ike attack that featured a strong senior season from first-year starter Jack Bullock. Hurley still managed to go for 870 yards at a clip of 7.4 YPC and 10 touchdowns. He had over 1,000 all-purpose yards before even taking into account his lethality on kickoff returns. Braylon Burnside, Conner Temple and Keaton Duda is as talented of a wide receiver group as any in the county, and when Hurley was going, the Eagles’ offense was an absolute chore to stop. Mike Dziadula was the anchor up front that helped make everything go. But perhaps the Eagles’ most impressive trait this season was their ability to bounce back; After both of their regular season wins, they rebounded by beating Dakota to clinch a share of the MAC Red championship. Then, following a surprising 29-point loss to Clarkston, they came out and beat Romeo by 23 points in the playoffs. Not every team can do that. And, if Hurley was healthy, it’s worth wondering ‘what if?’ Speaking of ‘what ifs’ – two of Roseville’s three losses were by a single point, including their district semifinal defeat at Grosse Pointe South. That’s not by mistake, either. They were competitive in every game and played a few box office bangers, too, which included a 66-65 slobberknocker against Anchor Bay in Week 2. They finished the regular season by beating Romeo and West Bloomfield in close contests. Desmond Straughton looks like a future Big Ten gamebreaker – as a running back, the incoming Illini scored 29 touchdowns and had 1,857 yards between rushing and receiving. On defense, he broke up eight passes, had 38 tackles and one interception. Nobody in the county had better numbers with the ball in their hands. Quarterback Jordan Simes had a heck of a swansong, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. A Ferris State commit, his current teammate – Elizah Jolly – will turn rival at Grand Valley next year after terrorizing the MAC White with 12 sacks and 13 TFLs in 2024. It was fair to wonder how high the Mustangs’ ceiling this season was when Hudson MacDonald, one of Macomb County’s most dynamic athletes, went down for the season in Week 2. It makes what they ended up accomplishing that much more impressive. Lutheran North finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak, including wins over Riverview Gabriel Richard, Liggett and Ann Arbor Richard before leading into a second-straight Prep Bowl appearance against Everest Collegiate, in which they took the overtime thriller – one of their preseason goals – despite the adversity they faced. Their playoff wins over St. Clair and Croswell-Lexington were impressive as well. Jack May stepped in and helped lead the run-heavy offense behind star lineman Chris Gottschalk plus Ian McGrath and Jax Mason, who helped the Mustangs continue to pound the rock despite missing their top weapon. Cam Campisi stepped up huge in their win over St. Clair, setting a new school record in rushing touchdowns in a game. That specifically shows what the Mustangs were – fearless and willing to step up in the big moments. For as scary as the Cougars’ offense was this season, it’s fair to say that their district championship round loss to Marine City was a disappointment. But that doesn’t mean this season was a lost one. It definitely wasn’t for Caleb Moore – the Cougar quarterback passed for 2,340 yards and rushed for 703 more, racking up over 3,000 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns with zero interceptions. He was a stud on defense, getting six picks and 44 tackles making him one of the state’s most lethal two-way weapons. With his brother, Jacob Moore, Taye Redding, Demarion Johnson and others, this year’s Cougar team was one of the absolute most exciting to watch in Macomb County. They were unstoppable in the Charter League, too, going undefeated with zero games decided by single-digit points. As Michigan Collegiate begins to transition into a new era, they salute the departing class of Cougars who helped shape the program into what it is now — and their rivals are thrilled to see them go. It’s not always safe to make blanket statements, but there’s no denying it – Armada football just wrapped up their best season in school history. A program wins record (10) and a first-ever district championship win will do that. TJ Seiler, Jackson Malburg and Zefi Gjelaj – among others – will be remembered fondly for their contributions to the Tigers’ cause this season. Malburg even set a school record for touchdowns in a game in the Tigers’ district championship win over Hazel Park, punching paydirt seven times. They also beat rival Richmond twice, they crushed Yale and beat Croswell-Lexington and North Branch, taking out a long time of BWAC frustration. And the good part is that, as long as Detroit Lions Coach of the Week winner Kyle Rowley is in Armada, this type of season could become more regular than the Tigers’ woes of past. The Bulldogs’ season was tumultuous – after taking three losses to open the season, they won four of their next six – three over MAC Red teams and another against D1 district champion Grand Blanc – to get into the postseason. Had Romeo’s close losses to Adams and Roseville gone the other way, the Bulldogs’ would’ve had a different path to the postseason and maybe, just maybe, their campaign would’ve gone longer. And while a first round loss is disappointing in north Macomb, there’s plenty for this year’s Bulldogs to be proud of. For starters, WRs Drake VanDriessche and DJ Phillips both compiled strong film, along with tight end Jackson Swords. In fact, there’s practically no question that those guys – along with others – will continue the strong tradition of Bulldogs in the NCAA. Stevenson made the playoffs, but a matchup with state championship semifinalist Cass Tech delivered an unfortunate start to their postseason run aspirations. It was a strong start to the season for Justin Newcomb’s squad – wins over Novi, Utica and Chippewa Valley showed that they were absolutely above a tier of solid teams, but how was it going to translate against the elite ones? Not well. But still, they were competitive for most of the season despite several bumps and bruises across the roster, including to quarterback Andrew Knight II, who was, at times, hindered in his ability to perform to the high expectations he holds himself to. But while there’s going to be talent moving onto the college ranks – Jude Osanaiye and Brayden Clark both proved plenty this season – they’ll have another offseason with Knight II and his star receiver, Ronnie Hill, to build up their rapport for one more season. The connection between Mott quarterback Mike Kronner and wide receiver Wesley Gilmore might have been the most electric in the entire county – Gilmore finished with 62 catches for 1,119 yards and 17 touchdown receptions, a major chunk of Kronner’s 2,001 yards and 27 yards through the air. Those two helped continue a tradition of winning at Warren Mott, which included a sweep of city rivals (Fitzgerald, Cousino, Woods Tower). Their troubles came once they left Macomb County – they went 2-3 against out-of-county foes with their season being ended by Birmingham Seaholm. Still, there’s not a lot to be disappointed about outside of that. In fact, the Marauders could be in line for a promotion to the MAC White.
Season’s greetings to all readers! Let me begin the second part of this article on the speakers of Sri Lanka with a reference to former Speaker Asoka Ranwala. A source who is usually well-informed about matters concerning the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People’s Power (NPP) got in touch with me a few days ago. He said that ex-Speaker Ranwala had indeed acquired a doctoral degree from Japan. According to this JVP/NPP “partisan” source, Asoka Ranwala has indeed acquired a PhD from a Japanese institution of higher learning and is therefore entitled to the prefix “Dr”. Apparently Ranwala, a longstanding activist of the JVP, had “escaped” from Sri Lanka when the Ranasinghe Premadasa regime had cracked down hard on the JVP in the 1989-90 period. Ranwala had made his way to Japan and resided there for several years, stated this source. Ranwala had pursued further studies while being in Japan during those years and had obtained a doctoral degree, claimed this source. Due to some procedural difficulties, Ranwala had been unable to get accredited documentation to clearly establish his bona fides in this matter. The JVP hierarchy was convinced that Ranwala had a doctorate and was prepared to give him time to produce documentary proof of his PhD. But when the Opposition was preparing to present a no confidence motion in Parliament, the JVP leaders had felt it was better for Ranwala to resign from his post and then restore his tarnished image by procuring documentary proof of his qualifications. As such Asoka Ranwala is scheduled to go to Japan soon (he may have gone already) and take steps to get proof of his doctoral degree. “Asoka Ranwala will soon prove that he does indeed have a doctorate from Japan,” emphasised the source. I am inclined to treat this claim with more than a pinch of salt, but let us wait and see what happens. As stated in the first part of this article published last week, both Asoka Ranwala and yesteryear speaker Anandatissa de Alwis have one thing in common. Both were first-time entrants to Parliament who served as speakers. Anandatissa de Alwis had entered the National State Assembly as Parliament was called then for the first time in July 1977 as MP for Kotte when he was elected speaker. Being a former journalist himself, Anandatissa de Alwis was the darling of the media but it was during his period as Speaker that the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act was given new teeth. To demonstrate the power of the amended law, two senior editors of Lake House were summoned to the House over a mix up of a photo caption allegedly affecting then Foreign Minister A.C.S. Hameed. It was a trivial mix up of captions between pictures of an event concerning minister Hameed and a woman clad in a bikini. The two editors were grilled exhaustively and hauled over the coals by Government parliamentarians. An exasperated leader of the Opposition Appapillai Amirthalingam called for an end to the comic inquisition. The editors were let off with a fine. The talk among journalists then was that the captions had been deliberately mixed up to enable the staging of this parliamentary drama. Anandatissa de Alwis became a Cabinet minister in 1978. He was succeeded as Speaker by the deputy speaker Beruwela MP, Bakeer Markar in September 1978. It was during Bakeer Markar’s tenure that the no confidence motion against Opposition leader of the time, Appapillai Amirthalingam was moved by government MPs in 1981. Such a development was unheard of in parliamentary history. Government MPs don’t bring votes of no confidence against the leader of the Opposition. Not only did Bakeer allow the motion but also failed to restrain the “criminal” remarks made by MPs against an absent Amirthalingam during the one-sided debate. The lone communist party MP Sarath Muttetuwegama walked out of Parliament after criticising Bakeer Markar for letting Government backbenchers run Parliament instead of asserting order in the House as Speaker. Bakeer Markar also failed to check the vituperatively racist outpourings of Cyril Mathew in Parliament on more than one occasion. In spite of appeasing hawkish elements in Government ranks and disgracing the office of Speaker in the process, Bakeer Markar was unable to continue as Speaker for his full term. After the anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983, sections of the Buddhist clergy exerted pressure on J.R. that a Sinhala Buddhist, E.L. Senanayake of Kandy should replace Bakeer Markar the Muslim Speaker. This was acceded to and the old trooper E.L. served as speaker from September 1983 to December 1988. Bakeer was inducted into the cabinet as a minister without portfolio. The 1989 to 1994 Parliament saw the veteran Muslim leader from Colombo, M. Haniffa Mohamed function as Speaker. M.H. Mohamed’s crisis hour came during the impeachment motion moves against president Ranasinghe Premadasa by the trio comprising Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake and G.M. Premachandra. After being initially favourable to the rebels, Mohamed changed track swiftly and switched loyalties in favour of President Premadasa. A fresh breeze blew in the musty corridors of power in 1994 when the 17-year-long UNP rule was terminated in 1994 by a People’s Alliance (PA) Government led by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. In 1994 it was the turn of Rajarata’s K.B. Ratnayake to be Speaker. The former Anuradhapura MP was an old student of Hartley College, Point Pedro and spoke Tamil well. K.B. was perhaps the first Sinhala speaker to speak all three languages fluently in the House. Most of the Muslim speakers too were trilingual. The new millennium in 2000 witnessed what was then the rare spectacle of both Government and Opposition electing a consensus candidate as Speaker. That singular honour went to Chandrika Kumaratunga’s brother and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s old school chum Anura Bandaranaike. The PA Government had won the elections with a slender majority. Though Anura was then in the UNP and therefore in the Opposition, Chandrika and Ranil agreed to make Anura the Speaker, much against the wishes of party stalwarts on both sides. A crisis arose when Kumaratunga prorogued Parliament after she lost her majority in parliament. Efforts were on to impeach the president and the then Chief Justice Sarath Silva. Sarath Silva tried to restrain the speaker from accepting the impeachment motion. Though initially hesitant, Anura Bandaranaike ruled later that Parliament was supreme. He said the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to issue interim orders restraining the Speaker in respect of the steps he is empowered to take under Standing Order 78 (a). As stated earlier, the ruling was prompted by the issue of a restraining order on Speaker Anura Bandaranaike by then Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva because there were moves for an impeachment motion against him (Silva) in Parliament. By then, no motion was placed on the Order Paper and only signatures were being collected. The restraining order was based on two fundamental rights petitions heard by a Supreme Court bench presided by then Chief Justice Silva himself. However, the motion did not materialise since the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga later dissolved Parliament. Summarising his decision, Speaker Anura Bandaranaike declared that: 1. The Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to issue the interim orders restraining the Speaker of Parliament in respect of the steps he is empowered to take under Standing Order 78(a). 2. The interim orders dated 6 June 2001 are not binding on the Speaker of Parliament. 3. There are no legal obligations to comply with the said orders. Later Anura crossed over to the PA after Parliament was dissolved. December 2001 elections saw the UNP-led UNF win. Ranil Wickremesinghe became premier while Chandrika Kumaratunga remained executive president. Gampaha District MP, Joseph Michael Perera was elected Speaker. During his term of office Joseph Michael Perera made a controversial ruling where he emphasised that the President could not unilaterally prorogue Parliament. The Speaker’s (Joseph Michael Perera) ruling reiterated the position that the executive power of the people is vested in the president and Article 70 of the Constitution confers on the president the power to summon, prorogue and dissolve parliament. However, Article 70 of the Constitution, Perera ruled cannot contravene Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution. Parliament has been elected by the people in whom the sovereign power is vested under Article 3 of the Constitution. Under Article 4, this sovereignty is divided and exercised by the executive president, parliament and the judiciary. In addition, under Article 4, parliament also exercises the judicial power of the people through the courts and tribunals established by the constitution or created and established by law. The Speaker J.M. Perera pointed out in his order that an examination of the scheme of the Constitution shows that Article 70 appears in Chapter XI titled, “The legislative procedure and power.” This makes it clear that this aspect of the president’s power is not an attributive of his executive power set out in article VII, but rather an administrative function vis-a-vis parliament. The exercise of the power to summon, dissolve and prorogue must therefore always be exercised in consultation with parliament and this function must be accepted at all times as being subordinate to the legislative power of the people conferred on parliament by Article 4 (a). Joseph Michael Perera therefore determined that were it not so, it would lead to a situation where one arm of government is able to completely suppress another equal, but separate arm. Interestingly Joseph Michael Perera’s ruling features prominently in the 2018 situation where President Sirisena arbitrarily prorogued Parliament without consulting the Speaker. Political cohabitation came to an end in 2004 and Parliament was dissolved by the then president Kumaratunga. Elections were held and the SLFP led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) came to power. The communist party’s D.E.W. Gunasekera’s name was proposed as Speaker by the UPFA. However, the Opposition nominated UNP’s Badulla District MP, W.J.M. Lokubandara instead of the incumbent Speaker Joseph Michael Perera. Though Perera could have been fielded as a speaker candidate, a change was necessitated due to political exigencies. Joseph Michael Perera was a Catholic. Given the rising tide of anti-Christian feeling among sections of the Buddhist clergy and laity prevailing at that time, a man like Lokubandara with impeccable Sinhala Buddhist credentials was seen as more suitable. The phenomenon of nine Buddhist monk MPs of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) holding the power balance in a hung parliament saw the need for an avowed Sinhala Buddhist nationalist like Lokubandara as opposition candidate for Speaker. It was hoped that Lokubandara could win Jathika Hela Urumaya support or at least ensure their neutrality. The election results indicated that the stratagem had succeeded to a great extent. W.J.M. Lokubandara became Speaker after a bitter and closely contested election. He won with one vote (110-109) in a tussle that went down as a shameful episode in the parliamentary history of this country. In a fracas occurring while Parliament was in session, a Buddhist monk MP was manhandled by a group of MP’s. The chief culprit in this instance was the infamous Mervyn Silva. The 2010 Parliament saw Hambantota District MP Chamal Rajapaksa become Speaker. It was a time when the Rajapaksas of Ruhunu were riding high with Chamal’s younger brothers Mahinda, Basil and Gotabaya being the President, Cabinet Minister and Defence Secretary respectively. It was during Chamal Rajapaksa’s tenure as that Parliament impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. Chamal Rajapaksa completed his full term as Speaker from April 2010 to June 2015. Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena in the presidential poll of Jan 2015. Parliamentary polls in August 2015 saw the UNF forming the Government Karu Jayasuriya became speaker in August 2015 as the latest in a long line of illustrious Speakers who served the legislatures, people and country for many decades. Fate seems to have decreed that Karu Jayasuriya should don the mantle of speaker when parliamentary democracy was facing danger. In an unimaginable political twist, President Maithripala Sirisena conspired with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to oust the then Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and seize power. Sirisena arbitrarily replaced Wickremesinghe as Prime minister with Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was Wickremesinghe who had the majority of MPs on his side. The Mahinda-Maithripala duo was engaged in cobbling together a parliamentary majority by enticing MPs through incentives. Karu Jayasuriya in his capacity as Speaker provided courageous leadership to those resisting unconstitutional moves by the Maithripala-Mahinda duo to seize de facto control of Parliament followed by de-jure control. He even risked physical danger to himself in doing so. Karu refused to be cowed down by the “terror tactics” of pro-Mahinda MPs. For the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, a group of MPs tried to attack the speaker physically. Jayasuriya was compelled to enter and exit the chamber with Police escort. Not all the waters of Diyawanna Oya are sufficient to wash off the black mark imposed on 16 November 2018. Karu Jayasuriya’s strength and courage to stand firm in this exercise in the face of violent hostility from the Maithripala-Mahinda forces was derived from his belief of being morally and legally correct. Karu Jayasuriya fought that political battle with the noble aim of safeguarding parliamentary democracy. His courageous defiance of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s MP’s in Parliament was a key element of that fight. It was the outrageously anti-democratic power grab – aided and abetted by Maithripala – of Mahinda Rajapaksa that impelled Karu to enter the fray and spearhead opposition to the illegal attempts. Karu Jayasuriya by his courageous defiance of Maithripala and Mahinda demonstrated that he was no pushover as envisaged by his political adversaries. Moreover, his brave conduct in those dark times resulted in posterity acknowledging Karu Jayasuriya as the most heroic Speaker in Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary history. Karu Jayasuriya as speaker also presided over the Constitutional Assembly tasked with the duty of formulating a new Constitution. The Constitutional assembly succeeded in bringing out a very worthwhile interim report that was approved unanimously by all party representatives. However several parties changed their stances thereafter resulting in the Constitutional exercise reaching a dead end. The 2020 elections saw Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna becoming speaker. He was the first SLPP MP to be elected as speaker. The Matara district MP who served two terms as Southern province chief minister had been first elected Hakmana MP on the UNP ticket. He was removed from office as MP by the then president J.R. Jayewardene for opposing the Indo-Lanka accord and violating party discipline. Abeywardena served as speaker when history of a peculiar variety was made in Sri Lanka. The “Aragalaya” protests resulted in the fall of the SLPP Government. The SLPP president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled from Sri Lanka and went abroad. President Rajapaksa was met in Singapore by the Sri Lankan envoy Sashikala Premawardhane. Gotabaya t signed his letter of resignation in the presence of High Commissioner Sashikala Premawardhane. She e-mailed it immediately to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene in Colombo. However, some doubts regarding the authenticity of the e-mailed resignation letter were raised in Colombo. Therefore, High Commissioner Premawardhane despatched the original letter through a High Commission staffer, who personally delivered it to the Speaker in Sri Lanka. The letter was read out to Parliament by the Parliament Secretary-General. Thereafter the Speaker Abeywardena officially announced the resignation of President Rajapaksa at a news conference on 15 July 2022. The name of speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was bandied about as a potential president in those crisis times. In fact some powerful western diplomats tacitly backed the speaker to take over the presidency. Abeywardena refused and Ranil Wickremesinghe became the eighth executive president of Sri Lanka. Presidential and Parliamentary elections in September and November 2024 saw Anura Kumara Dissanayake being elected as President and the National People’s Power (NPP) PP winning 159 seats in Parliament. The NPP Gampaha district MP Ranwala Arachchige Asoka Sapumal Ranwala served as Sri Lanka’s Speaker from 21 November to 13 December 2024 for 22 days. On 17 December 2024, Idampitiyegedara Wanigasuriya Mudiyanselage Jagath Wickramaratne was elected as Speaker. The election was unanimous. Dr. Jagath Wickramarathe who was elected on the NPP ticket from Polonnaruwa district is a medical doctor. This then is the story of the speakers of Sri Lanka from 1931 to 2024.
Go Woke, Go BROKE: Jaguar Stock Prices Tumble After Backlash to Cringe Rebranding AdWALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 6, 2024-- Vicarious Surgical Inc. (“Vicarious Surgical” or the “Company”) (NYSE: RBOT, RBOT WS), a next-generation robotics technology company seeking to improve lives by transforming robotic surgery, today announced the pending departure of William Kelly, its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to pursue other career opportunities, after nearly four years of dedicated service with the Company. Mr. Kelly has served as Vicarious Surgical’s CFO since January 2021. He will assist the Company to ensure minimal disruption and a successful transition of responsibilities prior to his departure, which is slated for January 2, 2025. “On behalf of the Company and Board, I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Bill for his significant contribution over the last few years,” said Adam Sachs, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Bill has been an incredible asset to Vicarious Surgical, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” Mr. Kelly added “My tenure at Vicarious Surgical has been a period of significant progress and accomplishment, both for the Company and for me personally. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded and the collaborative spirit of the entire team. I depart with immense pride in our collective achievements and unwavering confidence in the Company's continued success under its strong leadership.” The Company has initiated a CFO succession process and will provide updates as appropriate. About Vicarious Surgical Founded in 2014, Vicarious Surgical is a next generation robotics company, developing a unique disruptive technology with the multiple goals of substantially increasing the efficiency of surgical procedures, improving patient outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs. The Company’s novel surgical approach uses proprietary human-like surgical robots to virtually transport surgeons inside the patient to perform minimally invasive surgery. The Company is led by an experienced team of technologists, medical device professionals and physicians, and is backed by technology luminaries including Bill Gates, Vinod Khosla’s Khosla Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Jerry Yang’s AME Cloud Ventures, Sun Hung Kai & Co. Ltd and Philip Liang’s E15 VC. The Company is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.vicarioussurgical.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company’s actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein, are forward-looking statements that reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside Vicarious Surgical’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the ability to maintain the listing of Vicarious Surgical’s Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange; the approval, commercialization and adoption of Vicarious Surgical’s initial product candidates and the success of its single-port surgical robot, called the Vicarious Surgical System, and any of its future product candidates and service offerings; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability of Vicarious Surgical to raise financing in the future; the success, cost and timing of Vicarious Surgical’s product and service development activities; the potential attributes and benefits of Vicarious Surgical’s product candidates and services; Vicarious Surgical’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for the Vicarious Surgical System, and any related restrictions and limitations of any approved product; the size and duration of human clinical trials for the Vicarious Surgical System; Vicarious Surgical’s ability to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; Vicarious Surgical’s ability to maintain its existing license, manufacture, supply and distribution agreements; Vicarious Surgical’s ability to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the development of products and services that Vicarious Surgical is currently marketing or developing; the size and growth potential of the markets for Vicarious Surgical’s product candidates and services, and its ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; the pricing of Vicarious Surgical’s product candidates and services and reimbursement for medical procedures conducted using its product candidates and services; the company’s estimates regarding expenses, revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; Vicarious Surgical’s financial performance; economic downturns, political and market conditions and their potential to adversely affect Vicarious Surgical’s business, financial condition and results of operations; Vicarious Surgical’s intellectual property rights and its ability to protect or enforce those rights, and the impact on its business, results and financial condition if it is unsuccessful in doing so; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in Vicarious Surgical’s filings with the SEC. Vicarious Surgical cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Vicarious Surgical does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206242926/en/ CONTACT: Investors Kaitlyn Brosco Vicarious Surgical Kbrosco@vicarioussurgical.com Media Inquiries media@vicarioussurgical.com KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL SUPPLIES TECHNOLOGY OTHER HEALTH HEALTH ROBOTICS HEALTH TECHNOLOGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL DEVICES HOSPITALS SURGERY HARDWARE SOURCE: Vicarious Surgical Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/06/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/06/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206242926/en
A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, its also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits , that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three of them denied TikTok’s petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators - for which the company is covering legal costs - as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court's ruling. "I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it's time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm - the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan - would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital. Haleluya Hadero, The Associated PressGoalie Thatcher Demko poised to make first Canuck start of the season
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Steady leadership, unmatched wisdom: India’s sports community mourns Dr Singh’s demise PTI Updated: December 27th, 2024, 00:36 IST in Sports 0 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin New Delhi: India’s sports fraternity Thursday joined the nation in mourning the demise of two-time former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, paying homage to his “calm leadership and wisdom” in stirring condolence messages. Singh, 92, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here after losing consciousness at his home owing to age-related ailments. Also Read BGT: It’s probably a safe shot for me, says Konstas on ramps against Bumrah 8 hours ago ISL: Odisha FC to face Mohammedan SC in search of top four spot 8 hours ago “Sad news of the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. A visionary leader and a true statesman who worked tirelessly for India’s progress. His wisdom and humility will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,” World Cup-winning former cricketer Yuvraj Singh posted on X. Similar sentiments were expressed by his former teammate and Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha member Harbhajan Singh, who described Singh as a thorough gentleman and visionary leader. “What truly set him apart was his calm and steady leadership in times of crisis, his ability to navigate complex political landscapes, and his unwavering belief in India’s potential,” he wrote. It was during Singh’s second tenure that India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the national capital. It was the first international multi-sport extravaganza to be held in the country after the 1982 Asian Games, also hosted by Delhi. Former wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who is now a Congress MLA in Haryana, called Singh a man of “extraordinary wisdom, simplicity and vision.” “Dr. Manmohan Singh was not just a Prime Minister, but he was a thinker, economist and a true patriot. His calm leadership style and economic vision gave the country a new direction, from the 1991 economic reforms to establishing India’s reputation on the global stage. “There was depth in his humility and wisdom in his every word. His services and contributions to the country will always be remembered. You will always live in our hearts, Sir,” she wrote in her emotional tribute on social media. Former cricketers Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman and ex-women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal were also among those who expressed their sadness at his death. Before serving as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh was finance minister in the P V Narasimha Rao-led government and was the brain behind the economic reforms of 1991 that marked the beginning of liberalisation in the country. Widely respected for his intellect and grace in public life, Singh had retired from active politics in April this year after over a three-decade run as a Rajya Saha MP. PTI Tags: Manmohan Singh Share Tweet Send Share Suggest A Correction Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox. Leave this field empty if you're human: